Art Nouveau Amphora

About

Sinuous plants, youthful maidens and venomous dragons are among the forms that curl around the art pottery known as Art Nouveau Amphora.

Art Nouveau or the "New Art" emerged in the late 19th century and is recognized for the use of curvilinear forms inspired by nature and a focus on aesthetic beauty. Developing out of the Aesthetic Movement, Art Nouveau gained international popularity and influenced art, architecture, illustration and the decorative arts.

During this period, Louis Comfort Tiffany and his studios created stained glass windows and iridescent art glass, while inTurn-Teplitz, Austria (now the Czech Republic), the manufacturer Riessner, Stellmacher and Kessel (RSt&K), later called Amphora, produced distinctive art pottery.

Amphora's elaborate creations ranged from the elegant to the bizarre and often were finished with striking glazes and gold accents. Some artisans sculpted beautiful women and mythical beasts, while others decorated vessels with images of beautiful women.

While Amphora is best known for their pottery in the Art Nouveau style, they produced a range of work demonstrating shifting tastes and artistic styles during the era.